Evaluation Of Anterior Scleral Thickness And Angle Parameters In Eyes With Keratoconus

This study aims to evaluate morphological parameters in anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in eyes with keratoconus and compare with healthy control subjects.

This study has been conducted in Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital.

This single-center, cross-sectional study includes 20 patients with keratoconus, and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Anterior scleral thickness (AST) (0, 1, 2, and 3 mm from the SS vertically), schlemm canal (SC), trabecular meshwork (TM), and scleral spur (SS) length are measured in the nasal and temporal areas using sweep source AS-OCT in all patients.

There is no statistically significant difference between the groups for age and gender (P>0.05). In nasal area AST0 (699.25±73.06 vs 646.77±64.77 μm, p=0.01), AST1 (575.47±71.63 vs 501.26±53.19 μm, p=0.01), AST2 (587.53±93.23 vs 525.26±57.81 μm, p=0.03), SC area (9311.20±2035.91 vs 6684.48±2101.55 μm2, p=0.04), are significantly greater in control group compared to keratoconus group. In addition, in temporal area AST0 (736.68±75.32 vs 702.07±61.21 μm, p=0.08), AST1 (542.61±59.51 vs 486.99±58.72 μm, p=0.008), AST2 (545.19±64.43 vs 480.21±53.71 μm, p=0.005), AST3 (573.13±80.21 vs 498.20±83.33 μm, p=0.02), SC area (8522.05±3192.21 vs 6144.35±2386.49 μm2, p=0.01) are significantly greater in control group compared to keratoconus group.

Compared to the healthy group, AST is significantly thinner in the keratoconus group in both areas, which also has smaller SC dimensions. Structural features of the cornea and sclera with similar collagen content may be similarly affected in patients with keratoconus and AST might play an important role in maintaining SC morphology.